The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France stands as one of the most thrilling matches in the history of international soccer. In a game where Kylian Mbappe scored a dramatic hat trick, it was Lionel Messi who ultimately lifted the trophy. Three years later, Messi has reflected on that iconic night—and delivered a candid admission: “I could’ve won two.”
For much of his career, Messi was weighed down by the absence of a World Cup title, despite a collection of individual and team accolades. In an interview with the YouTube channel Simplemente Fútbol, the Argentine legend shared his thoughts on finally achieving international glory.
“That’s the ultimate. I think for any player, reaching that point is the hardest, the most beautiful thing. And in my case, I had everything—it was the only thing missing, being able to say I’ve won it all. I can’t ask for anything more,” Messi told former Argentina international Enrique Wolff.
He also acknowledged how winning the World Cup redefined his perspective: “Now I just enjoy it, and I really can’t ask for anything else. The desire to keep competing, to keep winning—that’ll never go away, because it’s my nature, it’s how I grew up, and because I love to win and to compete. But the World Cup… it shows on the field, when I looked at my family and thought, ‘That’s it.’ We did it all, we achieved everything, and after this, there’s nothing left.”
Messi on Mbappe’s performance
The 2022 World Cup final was billed as a generational showdown—Lionel Messi representing the old guard, and Kylian Mbappe leading the new era of global stars. With Argentina seemingly in control, Mbappe delivered one of the most electrifying individual performances in tournament history.
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Over the course of 120 minutes, the French forward became the first player to ever score a hat trick in a World Cup final. He added a fourth goal during the penalty shootout, yet despite his heroics, France fell short. Reflecting on the moment, Messi offered a perspective shaped by his own journey.
“Mbappe already has the peace of mind of having won it. I processed it differently. Even though what he did in the final was insane and not winning the World Cup must be tough, I went through the same thing—reaching the 2014 final and not winning was torture for me,” Messi stated, describing the pain he had to go through after the final loss to Germany.
Now a World Cup champion, Messi admits the pressure has eased—but the thought of a second title still lingers. “Winning it later made everything feel lighter. You see it in a different light. Now you think, ‘Damn, I made it to another final—I could’ve won two World Cups, right?’ But I already have it,” the forward concluded.
